Louis Lynagh tests positive for Covid-19

Louis Lynagh has became the second Harlequins player to withdraw from the training squad because of a positive Covid test.

It rules Lynagh out of the Ireland clash, although as a fringe player he was deemed unlikely to make his international debut in round four.

Further testing has produced no more positive results amongst players and staff.

"Louis Lynagh has tested positive for COVID and has withdrawn from the England squad to face Ireland this weekend," said the RFU statement. "He returned a positive lateral flow test at lunchtime on Monday and immediately went into isolation. A positive PCR result confirmed the result later that evening.

"All of the other England players and staff members have undergone daily lateral flow testing, all of which have returned negative results.

"England are preparing for their Guinness Six Nations tie against Ireland (Saturday 12 March, 4.45pm KO) at the Honda England Performance Centre at Pennyhill Park, Bagshot."

Lynagh being brought in and out of the training squad has become a pattern during this season's championship that the exciting 21-year-old winger, son of former Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, has then failed to make the final cut.

Again, though, the Harlequins flyer appears to be increasingly in the shake-up for his first international cap, with the coach clearly keen to keep him in his sights.

Lynagh is a man in demand, with interest from both Italy, where both he and his mother were born, and also Australia, for whom his dad was a World Cup winner in 1991 at Twickenham just across the road from where junior now plays for the Quins.

Even with him missing out again this week, he's evidently continuing to make a big impression on Jones, who will have noted that the youngster was again on the scoresheet with a sharp try in Quins' English Premiership win over Newcastle over the weekend.

Additional reporting AAP and PA